OPENING TIP
Utah Valley University returns to the UCCU Center on Monday night to host Jacksonville State in the the WAC/CUSA Challenge. Tip is set for 6 p.m. MT with the game airing on ESPN+.

The Wolverines (6-4) won the first of two games in the scheduling alliance between the WAC and Conference USA, edging Kennesaw State by three points on the road in November. UVU enters Monday's game looking to end a three-game losing streak in what will be the final non-conference home game of the season. 

Utah Valley is currently led in scoring by Kylee Mabry's 10.6 points per game, for those who have played the minimum to qualify for the conference leaders. Danja Stafford Collins is averaging 8.0 points and a team-high 7.9 rebounds, which ranks second in the WAC. 

As a team, Utah Valley ranks seventh in the country in steals per game, with 14.2 per contest. The Wolverines are also 11th with 24.5 turnovers forced per game. UVU leads the WAC in both categories as well as in bench points per game, assists per game, offensive rebounds per game, and turnover margin.

LAST TIME OUT
Utah Valley University stayed in the game for a half but went cold after halftime as BYU pulled away to win 76-36 on Tuesday at the Marriott Center. After hitting just shy of 50% (9-for-19) in the opening half, the Wolverines (6-4) were just 3-for-29 over the final 20 minutes. For the game, UVU shot 12-for-48 (25%) overall while the Cougars (8-2) were 30-for-60 overall and also made 11-of-24 from three.

ABOUT THE OPPOSITION
Jacksonville State is 4-4 on the season and owns a 77-58 home win over Southern Utah in its first game of the WAC/CUSA Challenge. Like, UVU the Gamecocks have also lost three in a row overall and have struggled to score during that stretch. Both UVU and Jax State are averaging south of 50 points per game during their losing streaks. Bre'Anna Rhodes leads the team with 8.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. 

The programs have met three times prior, but not since the 2005-06 season, an 84-77 Gamecocks win in Orem. Utah Valley's lone win in the series came at the North Star Invitational during the 2004-25 season in Fairbanks, Alaska.